Mets Leave Norfolk With Burden In Tow

Tides Win 2-1 Before 12,330

May 28, 1993|By MIKE HOLTZCLAW Daily Press

NORFOLK — For some, it was a night to renew old acquaintances. For others, it was a night to meet new and important people.

That's why Norfolk Tides outfielder Ryan Thompson and New York Mets manager Dallas Green sought each other out Thursday night before the annual Mets-Tides exhibition before a standing-room-only crowd of 12,330 at Harbor Park.

Incidentally, the Tides won 2-1 on Ced Landrum's two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded in the seventh inning.

The Mets sent Thompson down to Class-AAA Norfolk a few weeks ago. Then, last week, the Mets fired embattled manager Jeff Torborg, replacing him with Green.

``He's seen me play, but I've never seen him up close before tonight,'' Thompson said. ``He came over and told me who he was, and I said, `I know who you are.' He just said they want me back up there and that I'm a big part of their future.''

But more than the future, the Mets are concerned about their present. Despite a roster stocked with high-priced talent and big reputations, they are in last place in the National League East Division, 14 games below .500, 15 1/2 games behind first-place Philadelphia. The team has drawn unflattering comparisons to the 1962 expansion Mets, a historically inept team that set a major-league record by losing 120 games.

Despite the bad press and the unceremonious disposal of his predecessor, Green said he did not feel any pressure.

``I'm not afraid of getting fired,'' he said.

With their 15-29 record in mind, the Mets say they are aiming for smaller goals at this point.

``Forget about Philadelphia, and forget about all those otherteams ahead of us,'' third baseman Howard Johnson said. ``The only team we can concern ourselveswith now is ourselves. Our first job is to get back to .500 - if we can.

Green, whose managerial style has been compared to that of a drill sergeant, said he is not intimidated by the job before his team.

``We have a talented team,'' Green said. ``We have a lot of ground to make up, but all we can do is go one day at a time and try to get back on track.''

But the Mets aren't just having trouble on the field. The clubhouse, under the intense glare of the New York media, has resembled a circus, with outfielderBobby Bonilla fighting with reporters and Vince Coleman accidentally striking pitcher Dwight Gooden with a golf club.

On Thursday, the Mets did their part to shield players from the Hampton Roads media. Public relations director Jay Horwitz instructed reporters to ``stay away from Bonilla today.'' Injured first baseman Eddie Murray, dressed in street clothes in the dugout, was off-limits for interviews. Shortstop Tony Fernandez begged out of all interviews, saying, ``I'm very reserved - it's nothing personal.''

Bonilla even sat out the home-run hitting contest, leaving the Mets to be represented by Gooden and non-sluggers Joe Orsulak and Tim Bogar.

Johnson downplayed the adjustment from Torborg's low-key nature to Green's martial law. ``You just have to go out and do your job, and if you do that, you'll have no problem with Dallas,'' Johnson said.

For the Mets, their first trip to new Harbor Park was a rare opportunity to play before an appreciative crowd. Games at Shea Stadium have turned increasingly hostile. Thursday, the fans only wanted autographs.

But one player was not spared. Bonilla - whose nickname has changed from Bobby Bo to Bobby Boo - caught plenty of heat from the Tides fans. Bonilla, who signed an enormous free-agent contract two years ago and has been a major disappointment.

And even the Harbor Park fans let him know it.

In the top of the first inning, when Bonilla took a called third strike from Dave Telgheder, a fan in the right-field corner stood up, made an obscene hand gesture and shouted: ``Hey, Bobby, take your big, fat contract and go sit down.''